5Then certain people went and told David how the men were treated. And he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, Stay at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.
6And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia, Syria Maachah, and Zobah.
7So they hired thirty-two thousand chariots, and the king of Maachah and his people; who came and pitched before Medeba. And the children of Ammon gathered together from their cities, and came to battle.
8And when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of the mighty men.
9And the children of Ammon came out, and set the battle in array before the gate of the city; and the kings that came were by themselves in the field.
10Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose out of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians.
11And the rest of the people he delivered to the hand of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in array against the children of Ammon.
12And he said, If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the children of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you.